Get Updates

Quick Donate

You are here

Cambodia

Country Info

CARE worked in Cambodia between 1973 and 1975, distributing food, providing medical assistance and improving education. From 1975 onwards CARE worked to support the millions of Cambodian refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge and were living in camps along the Thai-Cambodian border.

In 1990, we returned to Cambodia, working with the United Nations to help 370,000 Cambodian refugees return to their homes. Over the years, CARE has shifted its focus in Cambodia from short-term, vital relief operations, to long-term projects in health, education and rural development.

Latest News from Cambodia

Girls Lead the Way

In Cambodia's remote northeast province of Ratanakiri, CARE has been opening up educational opportunities over the last decade for children in ethnic minority communities. In this region, many girls were dropping out of school due to high domestic workloads.

Uy Phom is an energetic young mother from Koh Kong in Cambodia who is helping ensure that her savings group is about more than just money. Under her leadership, women who come together to add to their savings each week are linking healthy finances with healthy children.

When Chan’s son suddenly became ill, she knew she needed to take him to the hospital. But the hospital was far away and she did not know how much she would have to pay to get her son the medical care he needed. Fortunately, she was member of a community savings group and was able to quickly get a loan to cover her expenses.

In 2003 the Highland Children’s Education Project started in Ratanakiri, Cambodia, opening the first community schools in six ethnic minority villages. Three of these villages were of the Kreung ethnic group and three were of the Tampuen ethnic group.

Lun Pheat, Nen Thu, Vin Sa Chhnoeum, and Ravae Saphea were four girls among the first group of children who started grade 1 that year. They started their studies learning to read and write in their own language and were gradually introduced to Khmer, the national language. By grade 4, 100% of their studies was in Khmer.